WHERE.THE MYSTERY COMMENCED.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LV, Issue 13945, 28 April 1909, Page 4

WHERE. THE MYSTERY COMMENCED.

Chief Detective M'Grath, who at the time was in charge of the local station, then detailed Detoctive Broberg (now Chief Detective) and- Detective Williams to make inquiries into tlio matter. It was found that the safe (which was one of an up-to-dato make, having been constructed by the famous Chubb Company) had not been blown open by the force of tho explosion. The charge had not been sufficiently powerful to effect that result. The officers at once proceeded to verify their conclusions or otherwise by obtaining tho services of Mr Ekins, an export locksmith. He took out the lock and after taking it to pieces found that lEe suspicions of tho detectives wero nmply confirmed. He saw tlint when tlic explosion took place the safe was in -an unlocked condition. In othfir words, the safe had been previously opened with a key,, and probahlv long before the explosion — if it could . have been dignified by the use of that term — occurred. In fact, tho explosion was a mere "flash-in-the-pan," and was intended for a ruse, as it was quite unnecessary to use Kelicnito or anything olso to open an unlocked safe.